Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the Lagos State Government of violating a court order by demolishing buildings in Oworonshoki despite a pending injunction.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday night, affected residents in the Coker and Ojulari areas. Falana described the operation as unlawful and a breach of the residents’ constitutional rights to own property, as provided by Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
According to the senior advocate, his law firm had secured a restraining order from the Lagos High Court on Thursday, stopping the government from carrying out the demolition. He stated that the government’s decision to proceed with the exercise showed total disregard for judicial authority and due process.
Falana maintained that only a competent court or legally established tribunal has the power to authorise property demolitions, not state officials acting on their own.
However, the Lagos State Government has denied violating any court order. Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said the demolition targeted illegal structures built on drainage channels and road setbacks. He added that the exercise was part of an ongoing urban renewal and flood control programme aimed at improving the city’s environment.